Story by Rob Smith
The Cactus Club nightclub, on Earsham Street, opened in February 2OO5, with hopes of being a community venue and successful club.
However, since opening, the management have complained about the high number of visits they receive from the police, and the large numbers in which they arrive. While police figures claim crime has risen 367 percent on Earsham Street since the Cactus club opened. Rob Smith of The Messenger investigates…
On the evening of 25th March, refugee support organisation, ASSIST, held a fundraiser at the Cactus Club. Prominent local community activist, Jeff Kirby, explains what happened.
“The club proprietor, Castel Fanty, was explaining the undue attention the club had been receiving from local police and licensing officers. Four uniformed officers had been to check the club license earlier that evening. At around 2am, Mr Fanty told me they’d received a phone call from the police, who were on their way following a report of a stabbing incident.”
When the police arrived, Jeff joined Mr Fanty at the main door to reassure the officers nothing untoward was taking place inside the club. “The officer claimed they would have to look inside the premises anyway,” Jeff told me.
By this time fifteen officers had arrived, in three vans along with an armed response vehicle. The officers claimed they’d viewed CCTV footage showing that a person had pressed the alert button and then entered the Cactus Club. Mr Fanty disputed that claim and placed his arm across the entrance because he did not want the police charging in, ruining the great atmosphere inside the club. He received an assurance that only two officers would enter to search the premises, and they were allowed in. Mr Fanty positioned his arm in a gesture to reinforce this promise. However, a third officer walked into Mr. Fanty as he lowered his arm to allow him entry, and further officers pushed inside.
“My experience of this incident and hearing about other police visits from Mr Fanty makes me think the police are paying undue attention to the Cactus Club,” said Jeff. He also believes that this incident has been used to raise recent objections to a 6am licence at the Club.
I went to the club in order to find out what’s been happening and was shown a record of visits by the police to check the club was complying with its licence.
February 2005: Seven visits by between three and six officers.
March: Five visits, one with six officers, two on the same night.
May: Three visits in one week, two of these were on the same night, one of them with six officers.
August – October: Seven visits, two with four officers.
December: Four visits, one with five officers.
Feb 2006: Three visits, one with six officers.
Mar: Seven visits, three of these were on the same night, one of these with fifteen officers at the ASSIST event.
Apr–May: Three visits, one with five officers.
The Messenger asked Inspector John Ekwubiri of Burngreave Safer Neighbourhoods Team, if he could explain the undue attention the club receives.
“To my knowledge the Cactus Club receives no more visits than the Afro- Caribbean club on Spital Hill or the Gower Arms.The Cactus Club regularly fails to comply with the conditions of its licence and accordingly receives a maximum of two visits per week.
“With regard to the ASSIST event, although people outside may well have said nothing untoward had happened or taken place inside, we must act on those initial reports. Now I’m aware that not all the officers that responded entered the club, but under no circumstances would we advocate just two officers entering what is a large nightclub venue, after such a report has been filed. From records in my possession I can confirm the report took place.We take false reporting very seriously, however, I am satisfied that this was not a malicious report.
“It is a fact that crime has risen 367 percent and although not every incident reported does relate to the Cactus Club, the patrons of the club are a contributory factor. Crimes in respect of public order have been more prominent.The club have to accept some responsibility for the immediate area of the premises in respect of people that have attended the club. There have been approximately six reported serious incidents since the club has been licensed. Some incidents where people have sustained injuries consistent with being stabbed.”
I went to speak to other local club and pub proprietors to see how their treatment compared to the Cactus Club. Linda Fleming licensee of the Gower Arms told the Messenger she gets visits from the licensing police.
“Well to be honest it was once a week every Friday. I thought I was being singled out then. But they haven’t been around for a while. But that just means, they maybe mounting up to something I guess.”
Marge, the manageress of the New Glass Bucket formerly known as the Afro-Caribbean Club on Spital Hill, said that once she’d shown their yearly licensing paper work in order, they didn’t come back to check again. “But!” Marge added, “Licensing police officers do carry out spot checks on this club and pay unannounced regular monthly visits.”
Lenny Brown, proprietor of the Thirties+ Club, on Carlisle Street/ Gower Street told the Messenger, “The licence police did come when we first opened but as our paperwork was in order and since then, they let us run.” Lenny did add, “Although the police did make a check for under age drinkers, that was over a year ago.” I asked Lenny why he felt the Cactus Club was getting so many police visits.
“Ten years ago running an unlicensed black, club or blues establishment in Sheffield was not a problem. When the Cactus Club was an unlicensed premises they had their fair share of issues, but since then, and now licensed, the Cactus is the best club in this area. Everyone is searched and I feel safe in there, because security is carried out properly.”
The Cactus Club management told the Messenger:
“Our concern is when policing has been and is required for certain events, its not being made available. That is until, something does occur and they place the blame directly on the club. Again ignoring the fact, requests for some form of policing during certain promotional events have been made weeks in advance.”
When we spoke to Mr Fanty he denied that stabbings had ever taken place in the club, even when it was unlicensed. The club’s management told the Messenger they would, and always will, welcome any form of police presence outside the club as a deterrent against all unruly elements attracted to certain promotions they hold.